Wednesday 27 December 2017

Letter to Student Series : Volume 3 Issue 4

My Dear Student Friends,
Greetings!

This is Dr. Ravi Saripalle, Founder, Inspire to Innovate (i2i) Storytelling Movement. Welcome to “Letter to Student Series- Volume 3 and Issue 4. Hope you enjoyed reading my previous letter (they are available at http://i2itm.blogspot.in/). The goal of these letters is to inspire, educate, engage, entertain and empower students across the country and make them Future Ready. Wish you happy New Year 2018

Acknowledgement: In this context, I would like to acknowledge the most valuable response of Hon'ble Deputy Commissioner, Mysuru to my previous letter. Hon'ble DC was suggesting to conduct pilot run to extract the required minerals and useful manure contents from the sewage water using low cost methods. This is wonderful business model also aids our Swachh Mission.

Education 4.0 for Industry 4.0 : Industry 4.0, often called as 4th Industrial Revolution , sometimes referred as Smart Factory, is widely adopted by industry in the form of automation, data exchange in manufacturing technologies, cyber-physical systems, Internet of things, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, ubiquitous computing and cognitive computing etc. 1st Industrial Revolution is more towards mechanization, water power & steam power,2nd Industrial Revolution is more towards mass production, assembly line, electricity, 3rd Industrial Revolution is towards Computer and Automation and finally the 4th Industrial Revolution is towards Cyber & Physical Systems. World economic forum's report warns Industry 4.0 may affect job market and millions of jobs might either displace or lost. It causes widespread disruptions in the way business operates. It poses new threats and creates new opportunities. As per The San Diego Union-Tribune, as many as 7.1 million jobs being lost in major countries (US, Germany, France, China, Brazil and other nations), mostly in white-collar office and administrative jobs, while 2.1 million jobs will be created in computer engineering and mathematics. AI/Machine Learning/Robots may better work than humans in some domains (e.g. dermatologists, insurance claims adjusters, lawyersseismic testers in oil fieldssports journalists and financial reporters, crew members on guided-missile destroyers, hiring managerspsychological testersretail salespeople, and border patrol agents etc. Another report claims, activities like cars and trucks driving, medical tests analysis,  middle management chores,  medicine dispense,  stocks trade and markets evaluation,  battlefields fight on,  government functions, and even creators of algorithms etc are done by machines). In such context, we need to derive answer to the following question: How do we manage transition and build a workforce with future proof skills? World Economic Forum suggests that there is a need for change in educational and learning environment so that students are employable. Education 4.0 is the prime solution!

Features of Education 4.0: Education 4.0 demands skills of 3 dimensions: Technical, Communication and Behavioral! Billionaire investor Mark Cuban says : "There's going to be a greater demand in 10 years for liberal Arts majors than for programming/engineering, because when the data is all being spit out for you, options are being spit out for you, you need a different perspective in order to have a different view of the data". At that time freer thinker become valuable. Soft skills like adaptability and communication, will have the advantage in an automated workforce. English, philosophy, and foreign language will have great future. Formal and informal learning structures will evolve to meet the changing needs of the learning. Creativity, collaborative learning, systems thinking, complex communication, and the ability to survive in diverse environments are key traits in education 4.0. New age skills include the ability to efficiently network, manage public relations, display intercultural sensitivity, marketing, nursing, caring, teaching, counseling, mentoring etc which are connected to ‘social’ and ‘emotional’ intelligence and creativity. Leadership, design thinking, human meta communication, deliberation, conflict resolution, and capacity to motivate, mobilize and innovate etc are essentials of future life. Storytelling using data, influencing and consensus building, journalistic skills, writing and speaking, understanding algorithms, grasping law and policy are key to progress. My dear student friends, Hope you understand how Education 4.0 is going to evolve over a period of time? How many traits you own? How much commitment you have to practice these qualities? Anyways, if you want to survive, you must possess maximum number of qualities stated. Are you game? http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs.pdf; http://www. sandiegouniontribune .com/military/sd-me-robots-military-20170130-story.html;https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-02-09/ machines-can-replace-millions-of-bureaucrats; https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wired-success/201611/why-artificial-intelligence-will-replace-managers;http://www.businessinsider.com/ibms-watson-may-soon-be-the-best-doctor-in-the-world-2014-4; http://www.nbcnews.com/id/42183592/ns/business-careers/t/nine-jobs-humans-may-lose-robots/ #.WMBBgVXyu_4;https://www.businessinsider.in/CUBAN-Dont-go-to-school-for-finance-liberal-arts-is-the-future/ articleshow/57214655.cms)
Tara Iyer, once Professional Tennis Player, now a Star Economist: Recently I was reading an article in The Hindu about Ms.Tara Iyer. It was an amazing case study for an individual excelled in two different domains! Ms. Tara Iyer proved that it is quite possible when an individual determined and having extraordinary commitment. Tara Iyer is a professional tennis player from India (Hyderabad). She won 4 International Tennis Federation singles tennis titles and 1 doubles title. Ms.Iyer gave a hope that one day she would reach to Wimbledon. However, few issues like knee injury, surgeries, shattered her dreams. However, Ms.Iyer was not down. She went to Duke University (North Carolina)  to pursue her studies. She worked at International Monetary Fund in Washington and did her doctoral course in Economics at Oxford University. She worked hard for more than five years to complete her PhD. Ms. Iyer credits her family for extraordinary support during these UPs and downs! During PhD, she received multiple fellowship offers like Federal Reserve Board, the International Monetary Fund, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and Harvard University etc. Thanks to her hard work and determination, recently Ms. Iyer joined the Council of Economic Advisers to the U.S. President, at the White House! Congratulations Ms.Iyer. You have inspired many individual students who are in dilemma or confused state that performer in one domain cannot reach pinnacle in another domain. You have set an example. http://www.thehindu.com/sport/tennis/tara-iyer-now-a-star-economist/article21261462.ece; https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Tara_Iyer
River Contamination, Appeal to Awake: On Dec 23, 2017, I read an article titled "Cauvery carries 600% more chemical toxins than Ganga". It is an eye opener! We all need to do something to save our rivers. We cannot just blame Government or industry or few individuals. It is the collective responsibility of all individuals to preserve our rivers for our next generation. If we all together fail, it will be great suffering to our next generation. We cannot stop blame from our children and grand children. As per Anna University study, river Cauvery is carrying the highest levels of chemicals despite lowest discharge of water into the sea. The amount of total dissolved solids (TDS) in the river Cauvery is almost 753mg per litre which is close to five times of Ganga TDS. Cauvery is discharging around 8 cubic KM per year in the sea which is lowest among 4 major rivers (Ganga 493, Krishna 30 and Godavari 105 KM per year).  TDS for other rivers (Ganga 130 mg/l, Krishna 320 mg/l, Godavri 200 mg/l). High levels of sodium can cause hypertension and reproductive toxicity. This is not good for our health. Ground water is getting contaminated across the banks. My Dear Students, think of some innovative solution without affecting industrial activity as well as agricultural activity. For more information, please read https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/cauvery-carries-600-more-chemical-toxins-than-ganga/articleshow/ 62216019.cms
Hydrogel, removes toxic dyes and metal ions (Developed in India): While we are talking about contamination as well as a proposal by Hon'ble Deputy Commissioner, Mysuru's (as stated in my acknowledgement section), there is a happy note to share with you. Indian Association for Cultivation of Sciences (IACS), Kolkata, have developed a gel that can remove toxic organic dyes and metal ions from waste water! It is make in India product. They developed a hydrogel which can absorb various commonly used dyes (malachite green, congo red, brilliant blue and rhodomine B.) within 15 minutes. It also absorbs commonly found metals like cobalt and nickel from industrial effluents in about 6 hours. The beauty of this gel is biodegradable.They used amino acids like leucine and phenylalanine to develop this gel. It is stable at room temperature and remained as gel for several months. This can be washed using sodium bicarbonate and ethyl acetate. We can reuse this. Amazing right? This has been developed under esteemed guidance of Prof. Arindam Banerjee, senior professor, Department of Biological Chemistry, IACS! For more information on this, request you to read The Hindu: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/iacs-develops-hydrogel-to-remove-toxic-dyes-and-metal-ions/article22267068.ece.
Adolescence is the best time for learning new things, Study!: Research from the Leiden University in the Netherlands found that the adolescent brain is highly sensitive to feedback. Adolescence is  ideal time to acquire and retain new information! Very useful research right? This study was published in the journal called Nature Communications. To know more about this, please read the article published at https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/health-and-wellbeing/231217/adolescence-is-the-best-time-for-learning-new-things-study.html. My dear student friends, as most of you are in adolescence, request you to use this power gifted by God and fill your memory with lot of positive information.
Recycle Your Diesel Pollution,  IIT Delhi Alumni's Startup! Most of the people prefer diesel generator even when cheaper alternatives available! The reasons are simple: Easy to install and operate, low space requirements and easy availability (as per SHAKTI Sustainable Energy Foundation -a non-profit organization). Emissions from diesel are toxic ( carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NOx), unburned hydrocarbons (HC) etc). Delhi-based startup (started by IITD alumni) called Chakr Innovation developed a device which absorbs the soot emitted from diesel generators. They are using this to manufacture paint and ink! The product name is called Chakr Shield. If this model works out, it is going to be great health solution for multiple diseases like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchitis etc. Hats off Team. Thank you The better India for publishing this inspiring article! https://www.thebetterindia.com/125578/former-iit-recycle-diesel-pollution/
Dear Students, Hope you have taken following Future readiness assessment. The last question is "how much time you are spending on physical activity". Reduce your exposure to games and mobile apps. Automatically you are bound to do some or other physical activity. It saves your health, focus, determination and attitude. I request you to adhere to following formula and build yourself healthy and build your nation healthy.

Request you to answer the following five questions and calculate your Future Readiness.
1.         I read / hear stories of amazing people           
 (A) weekly once (10 marks)           (B) monthly once (5 marks)           
(C) Irregular reading (2 marks)       (D)Not Interested (0 marks)
2.         I write letter / mail to my mentor (other than parents) for guidance (professional / personal)
(A) every 6 months (10 marks)      (B) yearly once (5 marks)               
(C) Irregular writing (2 marks)       (D)Not Interested (0 marks)

3.         I practice my passion or natural intelligence (to know your intelligence https://goo.gl/vgyD54
(A) weekly 4 hours (10 marks)       (B) weekly 2 hours (5 marks)        
(C) Irregular practice (2 marks)      (D)Not Interested (0 marks)

4.         I manage my academics with consistent percentage or grade 
(A) A Grade and above  (10 marks) (B) B Grade and above  (5 marks)            (C) C Grade or below (2 marks)      (D)Consistent Failure (0 marks)

5.         I do physical activity and maintain good health  
(A) weekly 4 hours (10 marks)       (B) weekly 2 hours (5 marks)        
(C) Irregular practice (2 marks)     (D)Not Interested (0 marks)


Check Your Score and Title
I wish you should be either Performer (your score should be between 40-50) or Challenger (your score should be between 25-40). You should not give any scope to be  Lounger (relaxed) with 10-25 score or Laggard (slower than desired) with score less than 10.

My Dear Friends, Appreciate your valuable time. Life is short. Life without purpose is no worth. Purpose without substance is no hope. Hope without you is not real progress. Hence you are the key and critical for our nation's growth. Hope you concur with me. You are carrying a message, a hope, a purpose. Hope you understand my anguish. See you in my next letter. Thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity. You can also reach to me at sdindia2020@gmail.com. I am happy to respond to your letter.
With Best Wishes,
Dr. Ravi Saripalle

About Author:    Dr. Ravi Saripalle is Founder of Inspire to Innovate (i2i) Storytelling Movement and Director, Center for Innovation, GVP College of Engineering (A), Vizag, AP, India. As part of Inspire to Innovate (i2i) Storytelling Movement, Dr.Ravi is trying to instill inspiration through spreading positive stories of amazing people in the form of short stories, embedding them in the form of letters (epistolary form) and sending them to thousands of schools, colleges, universities districts administration across India. Also conducting Storytelling Workshops in select institutions. Providing customized mentoring to inspired students. Dr. Ravi is having 18 years of experience in Industry, Consultancy, Training, Mentoring and Research. Prior to this current mission, Ravi worked with Wipro Technologies for more than a decade.  Ravi can be reached at sdindia2020@gmail,com or http://i2itm.blogspot.in/ or https://www.facebook.com/saripalle.ravi

Previous letters are available at http://i2itm.blogspot.in/

Disclaimer: The goal of this i2iSM letter series campaign is to inspire students / youth through storytelling and develop innovative leaders to build strong nation. In this process, I have taken several data points from various websites, NEWS articles, books, videos etc. I sincerely thank all the editors for providing such an insightful stories and information. To the best of my knowledge, I tried to acknowledge all the sources. I sincerely apologize for any omissions, grammatical mistakes and hurting any reader’s sentiments. I request all the readers to understand the spirit behind this effort. This effort doesn’t involve any commercials. Letter series is for free distribution.